Week 1 DFS spotlight centers on five WR vs CB matchups with clear 3x multiplier upside. Nico Collins faces a Rams duo (Williams and Witherspoon) in a pass-friendly opener for Houston, amplifying Collins’ target floor with Christian Kirk sidelined. Brian Thomas Jr. drawn to a Panthers defense rated poor last year, with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson slated to shadow. Jauan Jennings projects favorable perimeter looks against Tariq Woolen and Josh Jobe for SF, while Tee Higgins benefits from Cincinnati’s high team total against a suspect Browns secondary led by Cameron Mitchell and Greg Newsome II. Josh Downs provides a sleeper shot against the Dolphins, facing Jason Marshall Jr. The article leans on PFF WR/CB matchup grades and Week 1 pace and implied totals to identify cash vs GPP targets.

Implied totals, pace, and Vegas lines drive decisions early in the season, so these five spots are the ones to lean on as you build lineups for DraftKings and FanDuel. The piece also flags injury notes, notably Kirk’s hamstring, which could shift volume toward Collins and the rest of Houston’s aerial attack. Use these matchups to fine-tune season-long plans and optimal DFS builds for Week 1.

The Giants open Week 1 with Russell Wilson at the helm, betting that a more vertical passing game and better line play can lift an offense that struggled to score in recent seasons. Wilson’s preseason accuracy and rhythm suggest explosive plays can be dialed up to feed Darius Slayton, Beaux Collins, and Jalin Hyatt, while tight ends Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger threaten seams in Cover 3.

Washington counters with a blitz-happy, pressure-heavy look that Dan Quinn’s defense has used to generate chaos. New York will lean on a mix of RPO and quick-game to keep Wilson clean, then unleash a one-two ground attack with Devin Singletary and Cam Skattebo to attack light boxes. The battle of protection versus pressure and vertical weapons shapes the Week 1 fantasy outlook.

Key matchups include Beaux Collins vs rookie Trey Amos and Slayton/Hyatt vs Lattimore, with Nabers providing a potential big-play element if he earns targets. If the protection holds and Wilson finds time, the Giants could ride a favorable opening slate into a productive start for fantasy managers who chase efficiency and big-play upside.

Greg Dulcich signed with the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad after a strong preseason showing with the Giants, where he flashed a connection with the quarterbacks and delivered in high-leverage spots. He faces a crowded TE room in New York, but Miami’s depth at tight end is also thin beyond Darren Waller, Tanner Conner, and Julian Hill. The move hints at Dulcich’s clear path to the field in Miami, given Waller’s experience and Conner/Hill’s limited resume, potentially boosting his fantasy window sooner than expected.

Dulcich’s preseason output was modest in yardage but notable in usage and rhythm with the offense, suggesting upside as a receiving option. In Miami, he could be deployed in two-TE sets or as a contingency for red-zone looks, especially if Waller rests or is limited. The Giants’ blocking-forward TE group leaves a door open for a pass-catching specialist to land in a role that could be meaningful in fantasy when opportunities arise.

Jaxson Dart flashed command and big-play ability in his New York Giants preseason finale, wrapping a summer that has him contending for NYG’s QB depth with a sharp start-and-drive and a highlight reel 50-yard connection to Gunner Olszewski. A late 4th-down scramble negligible after a penalty, plus a head-injury check that cleared, underscored the teachable moments a rookie will face on game nights and in practice.

Greg Dulcich surfaced as a true depth-chart foil in a tight end room that already features Theo Johnson and Chris Manhertz, with Daniel Bellinger looming as the next man up. His two TDs capped a strong summer and could tilt the Giants’ 53-man decision toward using him more heavily in two-TE sets if Dulcich continues to force attention. Javon Baker provided special-teams value for New England, while Cole Strange endured a rough stretch at center and Kyle Dugger added a late defensive spark, though his future in Foxborough remains up in the air.

On the Patriots side, the WR room remains a carnival of testing, with undrafted wins and veteran bridges fighting for a sixth or seventh spot. The night crystallized a few roster questions: which young players can step up on kick coverage and return duties, and where the final few gunner slots land in a crowded, versatile group. In all, the exhibition delivered meaningful data for fantasy managers eyeing late-summer depth and potential week-one impact, especially at TE and special-teams roles.

In sum, Dart’s in-game look, Dulcich’s emergence, and the Patriots’ roster conversations set the stage for a frenzied cut-down period. The Giants leave summer with tangible optimism about their quarterback future and depth at tight end, while New England heads into the week of roster decisions still sorting a receiver corps that could swing several fantasy lineups in September.